LUSCIOUS LIP TRICKS

Some women are prepared to try - and spend - anything in the pursuit of the perfect pout. Treatments such as botox or Restylane are the most popular ways to plump up thinning lips or smooth lip lines, but if you're not ready for needles or fillers, the top make-up artists have some great tricks up their sleeves to make even the thinnest lips look plump.

Plumper lips: Which beauty products really work?

CONCEALERTry applying Shiseido Benefiance Full Correction Lip Treatment (£26, Selfridges) as a base to condition lips. 'It contains marine collagen to give a natural plumping effect,' explains Sally Stokes, head of education for Shiseido UK. She suggests concealing the natural lip line then choosing a lip liner shade which matches your lip colour. 'Outline just outside of your natural lip line, and then fill the lips with the colour of choice,' she advises.

LIPFINITY Make-up artist Caroline Barnes uses Max Factor's Lipfinity (£9.99, www.boots.com), intended to be used as a lipstick, to line the lips. 'This way, the colour lasts longer,' she explains. 'It also prevents an ugly lipliner stain revealing itself at the end of the day. I apply my lipstick or matching sheer gloss over the top and it creates a full mouth without heaps of sticky product. It also adds a hint of luminescence in the centre of your bottom lip - the end result is a beautiful lip shape without having to use lots of heavy product.'

FRAXEL LASER Dr Nick Lowe, consultant dermatologist at the Cranley Clinic, London, recommends Fraxel laser treatments to treat lip lines. 'It's safe, effective, doesn't usually whiten the skin or add shine and also heals quickly,' he says. 'Which treatment you have does depend on how deep the lines are and the causes of them. For instance, if they are relatively well-etched, deep lines and are from smoking, sunlight and lip pursing, then try Fraxel Repair. This is a single treatment and takes only a few days to heal. 'Smoking damages collagen, so it is advisable to give up. Fraxel Restore is ideal for milder sun damage, fine lines and pigmentation above the upper lip. The secret to maintaining the effects of the laser treatment is to apply a broad spectrum UVA and UVB day moisturiser every day, even in winter, to protect the lips. Apply over your face and lips.' (Fraxel Repair, £1,500 for one treatment, Fraxel Restore, £1,500 for a course of four. Telephone 020 7499 3223, or go to www.drnicklowe.com.)

LIP PLUMPER Go for lip colours with high shine to create an illusion of fullness, or try one of the lip-plumping products that stimulate the blood to the surface and add fullness to the lips. Celebrity make-up artist Cassie Lomas recommends Bourjois Pulp Action (£7.25, Boots), a pretty shade of pink that suits all. You can also dab a little shimmer powder to the centre of the lips as the finishing touch for extra impact.PRESCRIPTION CREAM To treat vertical lip lines above the upper lip Dr Susan Mayou, consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic, suggests trying a cream containing tretinoin 0.05 per cent, which is available on private prescription from your dermatologist or GP. The brand name, Airol Cream, costs around £29 and cannot be bought over the counter. 'The active ingredient in it is a vitamin A derivative, which if used consistently does show an improvement in fine lines and wrinkles from smoking or sun damage,' she says. 'Apply a very tiny amount and smear over the lines at night. It can make lips dry and flaky, so use every other night and apply a moisturising lip balm in between, but not at the same time. This method could take up to a year to show results but used every night, results can be seen around six months.' (Dr Susan Mayou is a consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic, London, telephone 020 7824 5560.)

LINE SMOOTHER Make-up artist Ariane Poole recommends Estee Lauder Perfectionist Correcting Concentrate for Lip Lines, £24 (www.esteelauder.co.uk). 'Apply it around the lips over lines, not on lips, before applying lipstick and it really smoothes and fills in the lines,' she says. 'It doesn't get rid of the lines, but it does make them less noticeable and it stops lipstick feathering. 'Go for a creamy lipstick, rather than matte, as these can really emphasise lines around the lips.' (www.arianepoole.com).SEMI-PERMANENT MAKE-UP Barely There Lip Blush from Debra Robson-Lawrence is a favourite with beauty insiders and actresses, who just love the natural results of this semipermanent lip treatment. Debra uses the FAME technique (Facial Aesthetic Micro Enhancement) to contour and define the lips, before adding a rosy wash of colour. It can be used to create beautiful, natural-looking full lips without the use of injections. In addition to creating a boosted pout, the technique can also be used to correct uneven lips or disguise scarring left by lip augmentation surgery. 'The result is extremely flattering - lips are boosted and subtly fuller, the Cupid's bow is naturally defined and the effect is totally natural. You only need a quick slick of Vaseline and the colour lasts for months,' she says. (Barely There Lip Blush, £895, www.permanent-makeup.com)

LIP LINER Make-up artist Mary Greenwell believes in keeping make-up for lips as natural as possible. 'Smudge your lip liner in with your fingertip so there is no definition at all,' she suggests. 'You want it to look soft, not harsh. Lip liner is not particularly fashionable at the moment but you can use this tip to create fuller lips. Finish by applying a glossy lipstick or lip gloss over the top. Dry lips will never look as full as a luscious and glossy mouth.'

REALWOMAN TEST

Do lip plumpers really work? We asked six real women to put them to the test...

Sarah Jones, 38, Manchester.Benefit Lip Plump, £14.50 (www.benefit cosmetics.co.uk).I found this quite thick to apply but it gave a good base for lipstick. It made my lips look smoother although it didn't make them appear any fuller unfortunately. 5/10

Elaine Downs, 45, Essex. Marks & Spencer Formula Instant Fix Lip Plump, £7.50 (0845 302 1234). It made my lips tingle after applying it but they felt well moisturised. It made a good primer for my lipstick as it helped cut down on 'feathering' and made my lips look smoother but not any fuller. 6/10

Kathleen Brown, 51, Glasgow.Philosophy Big Mouth, £18 (John Lewis nationwide).This plumping gloss was not pleasant to use as it made my lips sting a bit. I persevered but my lips didn't look any fuller. I did like the colour though. 4/10 Heather Kirk, 29, Hertfordshire.CK Calvin Klein Fully Delicious Sheer Plumping Lip Gloss, £12, House of Fraser(020 7003 4000).Easy to apply and I loved the colour. It did make my lips feel plumper, but I think that had more to do with the thickness of the gloss, which stayed on for quite a while. It was quite sticky and my husband would not kiss me with it on! 7/10

Jessica Rawlings, 32, London.DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss, £14 (counters nationwide).I thought it was okay; it looked good but didn't stay on for very long. It smelt great but I'm not sure I would rush out and buy it as I had to keep on topping it up. 6/10

THEY SAY, I SAY

Crystal Clear Face Lift In A Box, £85 for five treatments, www.crystalclear.co.uk

THEY SAY:A hydrating and lifting mask which provides all the benefits of a professional salon based treatment in your own home, firming and smoothing - plumping out wrinkles and lines in 30 minutes.

I SAY:A face lift in a box? Sounds too good to be true - and it is. Messy and gloopy to mix, it left my skin very dry. L'oreal Dermo-Expertise Revitalift, £11.99, www.boots.com

BEAUTY ICON

L’oreal Dermo-Expertise Revitalift, £11.99, www.boots.com

Best-seller: L'Oreal's Revitalift

Developed to reduce the size and appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, this is one of the best-known anti-ageing products.

Millions of women around the world evidently feel that it is worth paying £11.99 for it, because it is one of L'Oreal's best-sellers.

It contains retinol, an ingredient with proven anti-ageing benefits.

It has a great texture, which doesn't feel heavy and cloggy on your skin.

Used consistently for a month, skin does become noticeably firmer and smoother.